An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

  The Mustard Seed's Message of Peace and Justice "Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed— tiny and easily overlooked,  yet growing into a great tree that offers shelter and rest". . (from Mt.13:31-33 ) Peace grows when we choose understanding over division, forgiveness over resentment, and compassion over indifference. This image reminds us that both peace and justice often begin with small, faithful actions that grow beyond what we can imagine Small acts of kindness can calm fears, heal wounds, and bring people together. Justice grows when we choose fairness over favoritism, truth over silence, and courage over convenience. Small acts of integrity can protect the vulnerable, uphold dignity, and create a more welcoming community for all. Like the mustard seed, these choices may seem insignificant at first. Yet each act of peace and justice plants a seed that can grow into something larger—a community where people are respected, protected, and able to flour...

"And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow." Reflecting on the Parable of the Sower, I realize that being "good soil" isn't something I achieve once. It's something I must cultivate every day. Some seasons in my life I was distracted like the path, excited but shallow like the rocky soil, or overwhelmed by worries like the thorny ground. Encouragement comes knowing God is always at work, helping us become more receptive to the Word. One lesson I've learned is that deep roots don't grow overnight. They develop through small, consistent habits. Reading Scripture each day helps me stay connected to God's truth, especially when life feels uncertain. Prayer has become more than a list of requests; it is a conversation where I can bring my fears, hopes, and gratitude before God. I've also discovered that faith grows deeper when practiced.  It's one thing to read about forgiveness, patience, a...

 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,  for I am gentle and humble in heart,  and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (from Matthew 11:29-30 ) “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” is one of Matthew’s most familiar promises, often heard as Christ calling the weary to rest.   Yet we should ask what burdens Jesus means, and what kind of rest he offers.   Some burdens are personal: illness, grief, job loss, and uncertainty about how to provide for those we love.   Others are social and spiritual: destructive words, unjust systems, anxious expectations, and demands that wear down the soul. Into this weariness, Jesus offers more than relief; he offers a yoke that joins us to him and teaches faithful freedom.   In Jesus’ world, a yoke could symbolize obedience to God, especially the practice of Torah. Jesus does not add another crushing demand; he offers life in communion with God, where responsib...

“Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones will not lose their reward.” (Mt. 10.42) A Cup of Water You can be a flower by the side of the road. You can be a fountain for whoever passes by. You can be a lighthouse where the coast is uncertain. You can be a handrail, a park bench, an umbrella. You can be the voice that does not jeer, that calms, encourages, or thanks. ___________________ Weather Report The sky’s the limit. Led by favorable winds,  opportunities for grace will abound. Though the world is partly cloudy, expect to radiate warmth and light. With thanks to Steve Garnaas-Holmes Unfolding Light www.unfoldinglight.net

  "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground  apart from your Father.  And even the hairs of your head are all counted.  So do not be afraid;  you are of more value than many sparrows." (from Matthew 10.24-39 ) Consider the tiny Sparrow! Sparrows live in grasslands, forests, and cities. They reproduce quickly, raising up to five groups of chicks each season. Aggressive competitors, they nest early and remain for life in colonies of about forty. A male Sparrow’s black breast patch signals rank, giving higher-status males better feeding, territory, mates, and scarce food access. In Jesus’ day there were abundant sparrows which were caught, sold for a penny each, used for food by the poor, sold as food, or as temple sacrifices. So, buying two for a penny meant one was worthless. Yet in Jesus’ day, these tiny, common, cheap, birds were cared for by God. But as Jesus points out, not one falls to the ground without God’s ...

"Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;" (from Psalm 91 ) Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated his firm belief: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Sometimes fear comes from apparent threats, but also from real, extreme threats to mind, body, or spirit. Walter Bruggermann reminds us, “You gotta have a place where you process your fears, because if you don’t process your fears, they will devour you [and] they will immobilize you.” Psalm 91 helps form a place for processing our fears. Dwelling in the Shelter in the Most High, (Hebrew  El Shaddai ) and leaning on the fortress of God in trust is the beginning place. God’s defenses are described through vivid metaphors: protection from hidden traps, deadly pestilence, and terrors of the night, like a fierce mother bird sheltering her young. God promises that guardian...